Maharashtra opposition creates ruckus, assembly adjourned (Lead)

Mumbai, July 9 (IANS) Opposition parties stalled proceedings in the Maharashtra assembly over a number of issues on the first day of the monsoon session here Monday.

Getting off to a stormy start, the opposition created noisy scenes inside and outside the legislature, finally forcing it to be adjourned for the day.

Among other things, the opposition members vociferously demanded a discussion on the June 21 Mantralaya blaze which killed five people, the Maharashtra-Karnataka boundary dispute, female foeticide and other issues.

Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil assured that the Mantralaya fire would be taken up for discussion Tuesday, but the members did not relent.

Chief Minsiter Prithviraj Chavan intervened to say that the government was ready for a full-fledged discussion on the fire, covering all points, but Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse demanded a discussion Monday itself under Rule 97 of the House.

The Speaker adjourned the house for 15 minutes and he invited various party group leaders for a discussion on the issue in his chamber.

After it reassembled, the opposition continued to insist on a discussion Monday itself, after which the house was adjourned for an hour. As the ruckus continued, Walse-Patil finally adjourned it for the rest of the day.

Before the proceedings began, the combined Opposition members of both houses of the legislature made their intentions clear by raising loud slogans, waving posters and banners and marching to the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue and later squatting on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan complex.